Writing mechanism for dolls or the like



June 20, 1967 E. M. SCHUMAN WRITING MECHANISM FOR DOLLS OR THE LIKE Filed May 5, 1966 Fig.|

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN'IUR. EDWARD M. SCHUMAN Jame 20, 1957 E. M. SCHUMAN 3,325,992

WRITING MECHANISM FOR DOLLS OR THE LIKE Filed May 5, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A I i I i i I I i LLHIIIIHHlllllllIIHIHIIIHITTIIHH IIIIII IIII .11 MIN l N VIZN '1 UR. EDWAR D M. SCHUMAN United States Patent 3,325,902 WRITING MECHANISM FOR DOLLS OR THE LIKE Edward M. Schnman, 4086 42nd St, San Diego, Calif. 92105 Filed May 3, 1966, Ser. No. 547,318 2 Claims. (Cl. 33-18) ABSTRACT OF T DISCLOSURE A writing mechanism employing template with a continuous groove having teeth to propel a driven pinion along the groove. The pinion shaft moves a rigid arm carrying the Writing stylus. The groove has raised ramps therein to raise the arm and lifting the stylus clear of the writing surface to indicate the ends of words, symbols and sentences.

The present invention relates to dolls and specifically to a writing mechanism for a doll or the like.

Many types of mechanical dolls have been developed to perform various actions, including drawing or writing with a pencil, pen, or other marking implement. The common means for guiding the marking implement in the proper path involves cams and followers with connecting linkages which are often complex. If the characters to be reproduced are anything but simple shapes, the cams become very complicated and expensive to make and require considerable design skill to ensure correctly shaped characters. Also, since the cam is usually the driven element, it is diflicult to change the cam, especially since the mechanism is often contained in a rather restricted body.

The primary object if this invention, therefore, is to provide a writing mechanism utilizing a simple card-like character plate on which the characters are impressed in their natural form, the mechanism comprising a simple, self-propelled tracing head which traces the characters and has a marking implement directly connected to the tracing head to reproduce the exact shapes of the characters.

Another object of this invention is to provide a writing mechanism in which the tracing head has a positive driving engagement with the character plate and will automatically follow the sequence of characters from start to finish.

Another object of this invention is to provide a writing mechanism which will fit into a doll body of reasonable size and having the marking implement on an arm which-is readily incorporated into the hand of the doll, with the arm structure easily concealed in the sleeve portion of the dolls clothing.

A further object of this invention is to provide a writing mechanism wherein the character plate is easily removed and replaced by one hand through a small opening in the body of the doll, the plate being guided into positive indexing means to ensure accurate alignment without possibility of displacement while the tracing head is in operation.

The structure and operation of the mechanism, together with a typical installation in a doll, are illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a doll figure showing the location of the writing mechanism;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of a character'plate;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 8 is an end elevation view of the driving element as taken in the direction of arrows 88 in FIG- URE 7.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions'throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawing.

In FIGURE 1 a typical doll figure 10 is shown seated at a desk 12, having a writing surface 14 on which a sheet of paper 16, or other suitable material, is placed and held by any convenient means.

Various doll configurations may be used and means other than a desk may be used to hold a writing surface at the correct position. The latter is important since, as with any mechanical writing apparatus, proper writing pressure is necessary for consistent results. A writing arm 18 extends from the doll 10 and carries a marking implement, illustrated as a ball point pen 20 for example, which can be fitted to the hand 22 of the doll. Arm 18 is easily concealed within the sleeve and adjacent garment portions of the dolls clothing, since the motion is primarily in a horizontal plane with periodic very limited vertical motion.

The writing mechanism has a frame 24 which is secured to any suitable supports 26 within the body 28 of the doll, depending on the material and configuration of the body. Frame 24 has a vertical back plate 30 with vertical side plates 32 extending forwardly from opposite ends thereof in parallel relation. Projecting inwardly from side plates 32 are stops 34 all disposed in a horizzontal plane adjacent the corners of the rectangle formed between the back plate and side plates. Also on each side plate 32 is an inwardly projecting rib forming an inclined guide rail 36 sloping :upwardly from below back plate 30 and terminating at its forward end in a horizontal platform 38 spaced below the forward stop 34.

The character plate 4-0 is a rectangular element of plastic, metal, or other material which can be formed as hereinafter described, and is a close fit between the back plate 30 and side plates 32. Character plate 40 is inserted through an opening 42 in the back of the doll body 28 and slides up the guide rails 36 until the forward edge of the plate rests on platforms 38.

The space between platforms 38 and stops 34 is such that the character plate is held closely therebetween. The forward supports 26 may be used as front stops for the character plate as shown, or suitable stops can be incorporated into the side plates. In the lower portion of back plate 31 is a latching plate 44 mounted on a horizontal hinge 46 to swing from front to rear. The lower forward edge of latching plate 44 has an inclined ramp face 48 at the top of which is a forwardly projecting shoulder 50, the latching plate being biased forwardly by a spring 52. When the rear edge of the character plate 41) is pushed upwardly against ramp face 48, the latching plate 44 will be displaced to the rear, allowing the character plate to be seated against the rear stops 28, when the latching plate will snap forward so that shoulder 50 fits under and secures the character plate in place. This arrangement facilitates insertion of a character plate with one hand and provides positive indexing and retention of the plate within frame 24. To remove the character plate 40 the lower edge of latching plate 44 is merely pulled to the rear, allowing the character plate to drop and slide down guide rails 36, as indicated in the broken line positions in FIGURE 3. Other arrangements for indexing and latching may be used, depending on the materials used in construction of the frame.

The character plate is, in effect, a template and the char acters to be reproduced are inscribed in their natural form as a grooved track 54 in the top surface of the plate. The word Doll is illustrated as an example, the track being continuous between letters and returning from the end to the beginning of the word to form a complete closed circuit. Along one side wall of track 54 is a toothed rack 56 extending continuously around the track, the other side wall 58 being smooth.

The characters are traced out by a tracing head 60 containing a motor 62 with a downwardly extending shaft comprising a stylus 64. Very small electric motors are readily available with reduction gear ratios of more than 100 to 1, which will provide considerable driving torque. At the lower end of stylus 64 is a pinion 66 which meshes with rack 56 and above the pinion is an enlarged collar 68, which rides against the smooth wall 58 of the track and holds the pinion in driving engagement with the rack. The lower tip 70 of stylus 64 may be rounded to ride smoothly on the bottom surface of track 54 to reduce friction. A suitable ibatery pack 72 may be mounted at any convenient location, such as on back plate 30, and connected by a freely flexible lead 74 to the motor 62.

Writing arm 18 extends thrugh a slot 76 in the front of doll body 28 and is fixed directly to the tracing head 60. To maintain proper orientation of the writing arm the tracing head must be suspended in such a manner that all contours of the characters can be followed without the tracing head rotating about its driving axis. This can be accomplished by means of hinged parallel arms, pulleys and cables, or similar means. One particularly suitable suspension means, illustrated as an example, uses a sliding carriage arrangement.

Spaced above and parallel to the side plates 32 are lateral rails 78 on each of which is a freely slidable end block 80, the end blocks being interconnected by a pair of spaced, parallel longitudinal rails 82. Slidably mounted on longitudinal rails 82 is a carriage 84 having guide pins 86 projecting vertically downwardly therefrom. Tracing head 60 is vertically slidably mounted on the guide pins 86, which have stops 88 at their lower ends to limit the downward motion, the head being biased downwardly by a light spring 90 between the top of the head and carriage 84.

The writing arm and marking implement are preferably kept as light as possible to minimize loads on the tracing head and its suspension, various types of marking implements being capable of making satisfactory marks with a minimum of pressure.

To avoid the necessity for marking continuous lines and to provide breaks in the characters where necessary, the marking implement is lifted at the appropriate places by incorporating vertically displaced portions in the track 54. An example of this is shown in FIGURES and 6 where the track 54 has a raised portion 92 with a downward ramp 94 dropping to the beginning of the letter D. With the stylus 64 on the raised portion 92 the tracing head 60 is lifted against spring 90 and the marking implement 20 is held just clear of the writing surface. As the stylus rides down ramp 94 the marking implement 20 is lowered to begin reproducing the letter D. At the completion of the letter an up ramp 96 lifts the stylus to a raised connecting portion 98 of track 54, which leads to the next character. This arrangement is incorporated into the track where necessary to sepaarte characters and allow shifting of the marking implement to a new starting position.

Abrupt reversal of the direction of travel of the stylus is accomplished by a reversing loop 100, as at the end of the letter D in FIGURE 5. In this instance the rack 56 follows the outside of the loop while the smooth Wall 58 turns abruptly around the end of a thin dividing wall 102. In other instances the outer wall of a reversing loop may be smooth, with the rack along the inside, but the stylus will follow smoothly around either type.

To ensure proper engagement of stylus 64 in the track 54 when a character plate is inserted in the unit, it is desirable to return the stylus to a specific position after each operation.

This can be accomplished by incorporating a terminal loop 104 in the track 54, preferably near the beginning of the word or character series, and offset toward back plate 30. Mounted in the back plate is a switch 196 connected to the battery pack 72 to control motor 62, the switch having a start button 108 accessible from outside body 28 and a stop button 110 which projects forwardly from the back plate. This type of switch is used in certain twoway limit switch applications and is readily available. Each button, when pressed, remains retracted, so there is no load on the carriage to move the stylus out of position when the character plate is removed. When the stylus 64 enters the terminal loop 104 the carriage 84 will strike the stop button 110, as indicated in the broken line position in FIGURE 2, and shut off the motor 62, leaving the stylus in the terminal loop. By locating the terminal loop at a standard position on each character card the stylus will always be in the proper position to enter the track at the terminal loop when a character plate is inserted. When the start button 108 is pressed the motor 62 is operated and the stylus 64 begins another complete cycle of the character track.

With other suspension means for the tracing head a different switching arrangement and a different terminal position may be necessary, the configuration shown being one example of an operable system.

It will be evident that a wide variety of characters and designs can be applied to character plates in their true form, without the need to design or calculate equivalent cam designs. The nature of the track 54 is such that any desired design can be pressed or molded into the character plate by conventional means.

The very simple operation of removing and inserting character plates makes it practical to use a series of such plates for variety. No adjustments or elaborate alignment and resetting procedures are necessary when changing character plates, since alignment is automatic. By using a self-propelled tracing head coupled directly to the marking implement, connecting linkages are eliminated.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawings are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. A writing mechanism for a doll or the like, comprising:

a substantially planar character plate having a grooved track thereon in the configuration of the characters to be reproduced;

a frame having indexing means therein to hold said character plate in fixed position;

a tracing head having a rotatably driven stylus;

suspension means holding said tracing head in a constant orientation relative to said character plate with said stylus drivingly engaged in said track, said suspension means being movable to support said tracing head over substantially the entire surface of the character plate;

a writing arm fixed to and extending from said tracing head;

a marking implement attached to said writing arm;

said track extending in a continuous closed circuit and has a toothed rack along one side thereof;

said stylus having a pinion engageable with said rack;

said track having portions raised perpendicularly relative to said character plate at locations in the character design where no markings are required, whereby said tracing head and said marking implement are raised at said portions.

2. A writing mechanism for a doll or the like, comprising:

a substantially planar character plate having a grooved track thereon in the configuration of the characters to be reproduced;

a frame having indexing means therin to hold said character plate in fixed position;

a tracing head having a rotatably driven stylus;

suspension means holding said tracing head in a constant orientation relative to said character plate with said stylus drivingly engaged in said track, said suspension means being movable to support said tracing head over substantially the entire surface of the char acter plate;

a Writing arm fixed to and extending from said tracing head;

a marking implement attached to said writing arm;

said track extending in a continuous Closed circuit and has a toothed rack along one side thereof;

said stylus having a pinion engageable with said rack;

switch means operatively connected to stop said tracing head;

6 said track having a terminal loop portion at a predetermined location therein; and means to operate said switch means upon arrival of said stylus at said terminal loop portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner.

HARRY N. HAROIAN, Examiner. 

1. A WRITING MECHANISM FOR A DOLL OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING: A SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR CHARACTER PLATE HAVING A GROOVED TRACK THEREON IN THE CONFIGURATION OF THE CHARACTERS TO BE REPRODUCED; A FRAME HAVING INDEXING MEANS THEREIN TO HOLD SAID CHARACTER PLATE IN FIXED POSITION; A TRACING HEAD HAVING A ROTATABLY DRIVEN STYLUS; SUSPENSION MEANS HOLDING SAID TRACING HEAD IN A CONSTANT ORIENTATION RELATIVE TO SAID CHARACTER PLATE WITH SAID STYLUS DRIVINGLY ENGAGED IN SAID TRACK, SAID SUSPENSION MEANS BEING MOVABLE TO SUPPORT SAID TRACING HEAD OVER SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF THE CHARACTER PLATE; A WRITING ARM FIXED TO AND EXTENDING FROM SAID TRACING HEAD; A MARKING IMPLEMENT ATTACHED TO SAID WRITING ARM; SAID TRACK EXTENDING IN A CONTINUOUS CLOSED CIRCUIT AND HAS A TOOTHED RACK ALONG ONE SIDE THEREOF; SAID STYLUS HAVING A PINION ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID RACK; SAID TRACK HAVING PORTIONS RAISED PERPENDICULARLY RELATIVE TO SAID CHARACTER PLATE AT LOCATIONS IN THE CHARACTER DESIGN WHERE NO MARKINGS ARE REQUIRED, WHEREBY SAID TRACING HEAD AND SAID MARKING IMPLEMENT ARE RAISED AT SAID PORTIONS. 